The Southeast Evaluation Association has a 31-year history of providing professional growth and networking opportunities for new and experienced evaluators. I am excited and grateful to serve as President for the coming year, and am eager to work with our 2017 board to build upon our past successes. Many volunteers work behind the scenes to support SEA’s mission and serve its membership, and I would like to thank our past and current volunteers and members for their continued engagement and hard work over the years. SEA would not be where it is today without your support.

We continue to be fortunate to have a talented and dedicated board of volunteers. I would like to thank Nathanial Myers for his thoughtful leadership as our 2016 President, and I welcome his guidance as Past President over the next year as we collaborate on new projects. I would like to congratulate Dr. Michelle Chandrasekhar on her appointment as President-Elect. She served on the board for the last two years as Secretary. I am delighted and privileged to have the continued service of Naomi Sleap (Treasurer), Dr. Elizabeth Winslow (Secretary), Dr. Linda Schrader (AEA-SEA Liaison), Dr. Moya Alfonso (University Sector Representative), and Anita Bushnyakova (Student Sector Representative) on the board. Thank you also to our outgoing board members, Jessica Tice and Dr. Gina Beckles, for their dedication and thoughtful service as SEA Sector Representatives in 2016, and I welcome our new Sector Representatives, Gaelyn West (State Sector), Dr. Nancy Bridier (Private Sector), and Dr. Kristen McManus (Local Sector). We are fortunate to have the continued service and diverse expertise of our Program Committee Co-Chairs, Dr. Bonnie Swan, Jennifer Johnson, Marina Byrd, and Dr. Fred Seamon. Kathy McGuire’s support as Membership Chair has been invaluable, and I thank her for her years of service for SEA. I would also like to welcome aboard our new Membership Chair, Jenny Wilhelm, who will transition to her new position on the board in June. Sean Little will continue to be our Newsletter Editor and Book Reviewer, as well as Shaun Horton as our Newsletter Layout Editor. I am thrilled to have such an accomplished and committed board and core of volunteers to work with over the next year.

As we continue our strategic planning for SEA’s long-term success, my primary goals over the next year include include:

Strengthening the outreach and coordination of our volunteer network throughout the southeast to build SEA’s capacity for supporting future programs and offerings

Developing and implementing an evaluator mentorship program for our members

I encourage our current and future members to support us in our efforts this year by becoming engaged in the increasing opportunities for participation and leadership offered by SEA, whether by attending a webinar, being a program or workshop presenter, volunteering on a committee, or writing an article or post to share your knowledge and expertise. Membership with SEA is more than a transaction; it is a commitment to your own professional growth and well-being, a connection with a vibrant and skilled evaluator community, and an investment in the endeavor to support, advance, and promote the practice of evaluation.

Sheena Horton is a Project Manager/Consultant for the Human Capital Division with MGT Consulting Group, a national management consulting firm that provides evaluation services to a variety of public sector organizations.

She currently manages and conducts organizational and compensation studies for state/local government and higher education clients. Her past project work included conducting program evaluation, facilities studies, needs assessments, and efficiency reviews for PK12 education, higher education, state/local government, and public safety organizations.﻿

She earned her M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida State University, her BA in Sociology and English from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and earned her Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute.

She also serves as SEA's Outreach Chair, provides updates for SEA’s website and social media sites, and is a regular contributor to SEA’s Newsletter and the American Evaluation Association’s AEA365 blog. This is her sixth year on the Board.﻿ ﻿